I've never made a pie in my life. Until I discovered this amazing recipe from BudgetBytes.

Why is it amazing?
Because it's easy to make, delicious and not overly sweet.


INGREDIENTS
DOUGH
1.75 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp sugar
12 tbsp cold butter (salted)
1/4 cup cold water

FILLING
2 apples
1/4 cup cranberries (dried or fresh)
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cloves (or ground about 5 pieces of cloves)



We shall make the dough first as it requires time to set.
The original recipe requires the ingredients to be pulsed in a food processor but since I do not own one, I mixed all the ingredients in the mixing bowl. Mix it up until it forms a ball of dough. If it still doesn't form a ball, add in more cold water, one teaspoon at a time.

Roll the dough into a ball. Lightly dust a sheet of cling wrap with flour and wrap the ball.
Place it in the refrigerator to set for about 30 minutes.

Now for the filling, chop your apples into tiny cubes. Once that's done, mix it up with all the other ingredients in a bowl. Be sure that everything is mixed evenly.



30 minutes later : Get your ball of dough out of the oven and roll it out with a rolling pin.
Use a circular object or a circular cookie cutter (size is up to you) and cut out as many circles as you can. Roll up the leftovers and roll them out to make more circles until there is no dough left.

Place your circles on a parchment-paper-lined baking tray and scoop your fillings onto each circle. Take another circle to cover it up, press firmly at the sides to seal your pie.



You can use a fork and gently press it against the sides of the pie to create those ridges. Use a sharp knife to cut two small slits at the top of the pie to allow it to 'breathe' while baking.

Now, pop your pies into the oven and bake in a pre-heated oven at 177 °C for about 25-30 minutes.




Be sure to keep an eye out on your pies, just to make sure they're browning nicely but not getting too brown. The juices from the apple might bubble a bit at the slits above, but that's normal.




Take them out, let them cool for a while and enjoy!



Pies are best served HOT. ;)